When Lisa Ferguson’s bicycle went missing from one of the city’s busiest intersections on Wednesday afternoon, she presumed she’d been the victim of a bike thief.

Little did she know, the silver hybrid she had locked to a TTC pole at Bloor and Yonge streets 90 minutes earlier, was tucked safely away at the back of the nearby Hudson’s Bay Centre, removed by private security guards for apparent public safety reasons.

Efforts to get to the bottom of how a bike could be seized without warning erupted into a storm of bureaucratic confusion on Thursday, involving the city, the property owners, TTC and police.

I wonder how many people have assumed their bike was stolen

Ms. Ferguson only got to the bottom of the “theft” because she spotted an all-seeing eye in the sky — a security camera.

Hoping for assistance in filing a police report, she approached a security guard, asking him if he’d seen anything.

She was shocked when he told her he had taken it, having snipped the lock at the behest of the property owner, Brookfield Properties.

“I looked at him in disbelief. There’s no sign saying not to park there, so I think most people would assume it’s OK,” she said.

“While waiting in the lobby for my bike, the security guard on duty there commiserated with me, saying, ‘Yeah, we get several angry cyclists in here a day,” Ms. Ferguson said.

“I wonder how many people have just assumed their bike was stolen by some run-of-the-mill bike thief and gone home and cried, like I was about to?”

Ms. Ferguson’s ordeal raises questions about whether or not a private security firm has the power to cut a lock and remove a bike — or give notice as to where it’s gone.

The answer depends on whom you ask.

Owners of the Hudson’s Bay Centre, Brookfield Properties, contend bikes are removed from the pole because the TTC — following an accident in 2009 — asked Brookfield to be watchful and remove hazards.

A spokesman for Brookfield said the firm is helping the TTC to “be a good citizen of the community.”

But the TTC said it doesn’t know about this gentleman’s agreement of sorts.

“It’s our sign, but it’s not on our property. The TTC has not asked for bikes to be removed,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Toronto Police backed the property firm, saying it is the right of any landowner, or adjacent landowner with responsibility for the land, to remove unlawful property.

Andre Filippetti, Toronto city manager of right of way management, said sign or no sign, the bike should not have been parked there in the first place as it’s not “an authorized spot.” But he said it’s “questionable” if what the company is doing is right.

He said Brookfield is the adjacent landowner and is responsible for maintenance of the land, but that this is a different issue.

“This is city land, so really it is something the city should enforce. If there is an issue they [the company] should call 311 and let the city decide. I would question if a private company should be making a call like that.”

We apologize to anyone who believed their bike was stolen

A further statement from Brookfield on Thursday fleshed out its reasoning behind the seizures.

“It is our first and foremost responsibility to protect the health and safety of our tenants and all those that visit the building. There have been numerous instances at this location where pedestrians have tripped over or have otherwise been injured by bicycles affixed to the pole,” it said.

“We apologize to anyone who believed their bike was stolen and in the future endeavour to provide either a verbal or written warning before removing a bike or other property from a prohibited area.”

The security company, RSSI, did not respond to calls on Thursday, but its employees removed three bikes from poles and trees outside Hudson’s Bay Centre on Wednesday, Brookfield said.

A Brookfield spokesman said bike seizures are not common, and when they do happen most people “figure it out” and get their bike back.